About the Film

U.S. Grant: Warrior

This biography of Ulysses S. Grant paints a revealing portrait of one of America's most paradoxical leaders. In 2011 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE will rebroadcast this film as U.S. Grant: Warrior, an abridged 90-minute version of the film, focusing on Grant as a Civil War hero and a brilliant military strategist who rose from obscurity to a rank held previously only by George Washington.

Photo Gallery: U.S. Grant: In His Shoes

Ulysses' hometown of Georgetown, Ohio, was a prosperous town, and his father Jesse did better than most men in it. Jesse was able to expand their house to accommodate Ulysses and his younger siblings. While there was lots of work to do around the family tannery, there were also plenty of books to read, rivers to fish and swim in, and horses to ride.

Although many kids never went to formal schools in the early 19th century, the Ulysses was lucky to go to school more than most of his peers. Ulysses's father believed in education, and he knew a U.S. Military Academy degree would give his son some advantages in life. As for Ulysses, he wanted to travel, and a military career would offer plenty of opportunities to see the world. But he was terrified he might fail his classes. After an exciting trip through the Midwest, Philadelphia and New York City, a nervous Ulysses arrived at West Point in May 1839.